Pragmatic Functions Underlying the Use of Inshallah 'God Willing' in Kuwaiti Arabic

Authors

  • Seham Al-Abdullah

    Language Centre, College of Business Studies, the Public Authority for Applied Education and Training, Al-Ardiya 92400, Kuwait

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i11.11642
Received: 14 August 2025 | Revised: 27 August 2025 | Accepted: 4 September 2025 | Published Online: 22 October 2025

Abstract

This study adopts a pragmatic approach to analyze the functions of the religious expression inshallah (‘God willing’) in Kuwaiti Arabic. It employs politeness theory to explore its role as a politeness strategy. Data were collected from recordings of naturally occurring conversations and semi-structured interviews. The findings indicate that inshallah is a versatile communicative strategy, serving various functions, including conveying respect, gratitude, sarcasm, challenge, surprise, disapproval, warning, and promises. These diverse communicative functions suggest that speakers of Kuwaiti Arabic ascribe new meanings to the expression that extend beyond its literal interpretation. Furthermore, the analysis highlights its positive sociocultural functions, revealing its role as a strategy of positive politeness across various contexts. Despite its function as a face-enhancing strategy, inshallah also operates as a face-threatening act. This study contributes to the literature on the functions of inshallah across various Arabic dialects. It also contributes to politeness theory, as many instances of inshallah can be analyzed through this theoretical framework. However, while the theory accounts for the use of inshallah in expressing solidarity and fostering social bonding, its conventional framework inadequately addresses the application of what is typically recognized as a face-enhancing strategy when it is employed in a manner that threatens face. The data presented in this study challenge the assertion made by the theory regarding the inherent nature of illocutionary acts. Consequently, a significant implication of this research is that politeness theory necessitates revision to adequately incorporate these findings. The study advocates for an emphasis on context in the interpretation of linguistic items.

Keywords:

Face-threatening Acts; Inshallah; Politeness Theory; Pragmatic Functions; Speech Acts

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How to Cite

Al-Abdullah, S. (2025). Pragmatic Functions Underlying the Use of Inshallah ’God Willing’ in Kuwaiti Arabic. Forum for Linguistic Studies, 7(11), 851–866. https://doi.org/10.30564/fls.v7i11.11642

Issue

Vol. 7 , Iss. 11 (November 2025): In progress

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Copyright © 2025 Seham Al-Abdullah

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